**** Parks Canada Release
The health and safety of Canadians, visitors and Parks Canada team members is our top priority.
We are following the advice of public health experts and taking steps to support the Government of Canada’s efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19 and reduce risks to visitors, employees, and other users of Parks Canada spaces.
Being outdoors and in nature brings a number of health and wellness benefits. As all Canadians do their part to flatten the curve of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important that people have access to natural spaces where they can go to get exercise and fresh air in settings that facilitate physical distancing.
On June 1, 2020, Parks Canada will begin a safe, gradual opening of some outdoor locations in national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas.
This means:
- Starting June 1, visitors will be permitted to access some trails, day use areas, and green spaces at some locations. Until then, all suspensions of visitor services and closures of facilities announced in March remain in place.
- For their own safety, visitors should not try to access locations that are closed.
- All camping facilities remain closed until at least June 21, 2020, while Parks Canada assesses whether and how these services might resume. Group activities and public events will be prohibited until further notice. All existing reservations set to take place prior to June 21, 2020, will be automatically cancelled and refunded in full.
- Highways and roadways which pass through Parks Canada places will remain open.
- Parks Canada will coordinate the resumption of services with Indigenous partners, communities, provinces and territories and respect their concerns about COVID-19.
Only places and activities where health and safety risks can be managed will be available for visitation. The government is asking Canadians to be cautious and conservative in their use of these places, to observe travel restrictions, to respect the guidance of public health experts, and to make every effort to keep one another safe.
Opening details will differ across the country. Visitors are asked to plan ahead by checking before they travel.
